Lifesaving net



Dec. 29, 1936. C, C, LENZ 2,066,132

LIFESAVING NET Filed Feb. 5,' 1936 BY u A NEYS Patented Dec. 29, 1936.-1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIFESAVING NET Charles c. Lenz, Great Inns,staten Island, N. Y.Y

Application February 5, 1936, Serial No. 62,410

7 Claims. (Cl. 227-46) The invention relates to life saving nets 'of thecal section but is relatively short (Fig. 2). Both' so-called Browdertype, comprising generally plug portions are intersected, at an angle totheir a canvas net yieldingly supported by a, ring axes, by a slot,which is straight throughoutits frame adapted to be held by firemen toreceive length and which is an extension of the slot or persons obligedto jump from burning buildings. space I4 between hinge lugs 'I. 5

In use such nets are subjected to enormous The other member of thejoint, marked 5, strains and, being therefore required to be ofcomprises a head of conical section complemengreat strength (and usuallyof a diameter of tary to plug I3 and forming with it a head idensomenine feet) are heavy and cumbersome to tical to head 9, having a similarrecess II to re'- 10 transport and, in consequence, are usually ceivethe end of the adjacent pipe section and l0 adapted to be folded, eitherin halves or quaralso a reduced shank IU fitting the pipe and se` ters,the folding being permitted by making the cured to it by a correspondingpin I2. Member ring or frame in sections which are hinged to- 5 hasproje-cting from it a tongue I5 set at lan gether. The present inventionparticularly conappropriate angle to the axis of member 5 and cerns thehinge joints for such sections, having so shaped as to fit slot I4 andalso to provide a 15,

for its objects the elimination of certain weakhinge lug I6complementary to lugs 1, through nesses inherent in prior constructionsand the all of which lugs DeSSeS a hinge boli', I7. AS i11- provision ofa joint which is rugged, which is dicated, the engaging end faces of thetongue not liable to derangement and which is simple and slot, and ofplugs I3 and 5 are bevelled, S0

and safe to manipulate, all as described Amore as to limit the relativemovement of the yjoint 2O fully below by reference to the accompanyingmembers and ensure their alignment when `the drawing in which: sectionsare brought from the dotted to the full Fig. l is a plan view of thejoint, showing a line positions indicated in Fig- 2. portion of a lifenet of the type referred to; AS Shown, eeeh 0f JDhe DhS l2 Which SeCUreSFig. 2 is an enlarged section of the joint, the the Pipe Sections t0 thehinge members, Serves broken position of which is indicated in doi-,tedalso to secure a collar I8 upon which slides one lines, and end of ahand-grip locking sleeve I9. The in- Fig. 3 is a section on the lineIII-III of Fig. 2. terior of the other end of each sleeve is tapered InFig. 1 the canvas net is marked I and the so that When the inner ends Othe Sleeves abut reference 2 indicates generally the spring supthe hingelugs, they oloSely t the tapered plug n0 ports by which the net issecured to the frame portions and tongue I6 and rigidly hold the joint D3. The latter comprises pipe sections bent to closed. At the same timethe sleeves constitute circular form, there being two or four sectionsConvenient hand grips S0 that they may be readdepending on whether thenet is to be foldable ily drawn back to permit the joint 150 be broken,in halves or quarters, as will be understood. the taper facilitating thedisengagement of the Since they are all of identical construction onlyDarts aS Well as ensuring a tight locking 0f the one joint is shown.same when in engaging position.

According to my invention the end portions of The inte-rior of eachsleeve has a ange 20 the pipe sections, throughout a relatively shortwhich provides a bearing for the sleeve on the distance, are straight,as shown in Fig. 3 and are pipe section and serves also as a bearing forunited by a hinge joint comprising essentially the end of a spring 2| bywhich the sleeve is two members, indicated at large by the referenceurged toward its locking position; the other end characters 4 and 5. ofthe spring bears against collar I8. Being The member 4 comprises acentral portion 6 thus journalled on collar I8 at one end and, interfromwhich protrudes laterally the spaced hinge mediate its length, on thestraight end of the 45 lugs 1. From the ends of the portion 6 extendpipe section, the sleeve is capable of being freely integral plugportions each of which is set at an operated Without danger of jammingand, at the angle to the axis of the central portion (Fig. 3). sametime, the springs 2| are effectively enclosed One of these plug portionscomprises a head 9, and the possibility of the hand of the operator ofconical section andareduced shank I0 adapted being pinched by any of theparts is reduced to 50 to t within the adjacent pipe section (Fig. 2); aminimum. in the end face of the head is a recess II to re- In thepreferred form illustrated, the locking ceive the pipe. The pipe andshank may thus sleeves are so arranged that they may be withbe rigidlysecured together, as by a pin I2. 'Ihe drawn by merely rotating them, towhich end other plug portion, marked I3, is likewise of conipins I2 areextended beyond collars. I8 to en- 55 in theoth'er', as indicated by thearrows in Fig. 1.

gage quick-threads `272 formed on the kinterior of the sleeves. Asindicated, the threads are both Y of the same cut (either right or Vlefthand) with the result that theV sleeves, Ygrasped one in each hand ofthe operator, areV positively withdrawnby rotating them one in onedirection and one I'claim: Y Y Y 1. In a'lifenet having pipeV sectionsVbent to circularl formand terminating in straight end portions;connecting means for said sections comprising two members; one of saidmembersy having a central hinge portion and plug portions integraltherewith and extending one from eachV end thereof at an angle to theaxis of the central portiomone of said plug portions having an extensionadapted to enter the straight end portionv of one of the pipesections,and a straight slot extending through said Ycentral portionthroughout the length thereof and into said plug portions; the otherof'said members having aV which each of the plug portions adapted toenterthe pipe sections has an enlarged head havirg arecess therein toreceive the pipe end.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1,' in which Yeach of the saidintegral plug portions isV offconical section adjacent its junction withthe 'saidv central portion, for the purpose described.

`for the sleeve on the pipe. V 5. The combination set forth in claim 4,in

4.V In'a hinge joint of the character described, the combination with apipe section bent to circular form and terminating in ajstraight endportion, a plug having a head and an extension adapted to enter thepipe, said headfb'eing of greater diameter than the pipe' and adapted toform a stop against which the` endV of the pipe,V

the sleeve and bearingl at oneend against said collar, and a ange on theinterior of the sleeve `against which bears the other end of saidspring, said ange also adapted to furnish a bearing which the interiorof said sleeve at the end thereof remotefrom said collar is tapered, forthe purpose described. Y

v6. In a hinge joint of the character described,

the combination with a pipe section bent. to circular rform andterminating in a straight end portion,.a plug having a head and anextension 'adaptedY to enter the pipe, a hand-grip comprising asleeveengageable lwith said head and journalled at one end, andintermediate its ends, for longitudinal V'movement on the pipe, and avspring enclosed between the sleeve and pipe and adapt# ed to urge theformer into engagement with said head, for the purpose described.`

7. In a hinge joint, the combination as claimed in. claim 6 in whichsaid hand-grip sleeve has a quick threadformed on the interior thereofand is adapted to be engaged by` a pin member secured to the pipe, forthe purpose described.

CHARLES c'. LENz.

